THERE are few men who can wear the label "the father of football". Brother John Pye, an unassuming
Catholic priest with a country background, was one of them.

On Friday, the man credited with bringing Australian football to the Tiwi Islands, with a
few sticks hammered into an old airstrip, died in Darwin.

Known to Tiwi locals by the name of Punderdelime — meaning crocodile tail and representing
strength and maturity — he was 102.

The home page of Darwin's St Mary's Football Club, where many Tiwi Islanders have played,
quotes Brother John as saying he joined the Missionary of the Sacred Heart order because he "wanted to help people in far
away places".

So it was that he arrived on the Tiwi Islands in 1941 as a young priest posted as a teacher.

Born in the NSW Riverina in 1906, he was a natural athlete who captained his school football
team.

When he arrived in the islands, the Tiwi people played a traditional form of football, which
had the aim of running or kicking the ball over the line.

But Brother John's initial efforts to establish the Australian game were thwarted by war,
where he spent most of his time at Port Keats, in the Northern Territory.

In peacetime, he tried again, using an old World War II airstrip, with sticks at each end,
as a football field.

In an ABC television interview, Brother John said he could see the Tiwi were an "athletic,
spritely and springy" people.

"Their brand of football is lightning fast, and it's almost like a religion with them," he
said.

In the decades since Brother John arrived, the Tiwi Islands have produced some of football's
most acclaimed players, such as former Essendon co-captain Michael Long, Richmond legend Maurice Rioli — both Norm Smith
medallists — and rising Hawthorn star Cyril Rioli.

Last night, former Essendon coach Kevin Sheedy said Brother John should be remembered as one
of the quiet heroes of football who deserved serious acclaim.

"When you are working in a community, as he was, to start something and create what is happening
in our game today is marvellous," he said. "Just go and see the Longs and the Riolis who have come down."

Brother John spent almost 70 years working on Catholic missions in the Northern Territory,
including the Bathurst Island, Garden Point and Daly River missions.

He was awarded an Order of Australia in 1986.

Darwin's Bishop Eugene Hurley said Brother John was "an icon of the Territory" who committed
his life to serving other people.

In years to come, the name John Pye will continue to be remembered on at least one day a year,
the Tiwi grand final, when a medal in his honour is named for the best afield.

"It's a great honor, the John Pye Medal," Brother John told the ABC in 2006. "Everybody likes
to be remembered, sort of thing. Each year they bring that up."

Tiwi Islands Premiers

Year

Premiers

G

P

B

Opponents

G

P

B

1969/70

Pumarali

Def

No Scores

1970/71

Tapalinga

Def

Pumarali

No Scores

1971/72

Irrimuru

15

6

96

Def

Pumarali

9

14

68

1972/73

Imalu

Def

Tapalinga

No scores Imalu by 55 pts

1973/74

Imalu

12

8

80

Def

Pumarali

8

5

53

1974/75

Tuyu

11

8

74

Def

Imalu

10

13

73

1 Point

1975/76

Pumarali

13

6

84

Def

Tuyu

8

12

60

1976/77

Tapalinga

12

6

78

Def

Pumarali

10

9

69

1977/78

Pumarali

14

15

99

Def

Imalu

10

9

69

1978/79

Imalu

25

15

165

Def

Tapalinga

2

4

16

1979/80

Pumarali

10

16

76

Def

Milikapati

7

10

52

1980/81

Imalu

12

11

83

Def

Pumarali

12

6

78

1981/82

Imalu

20

8

128

Def

Tapalinga

8

18

66

1982/83

Tapalinga

18

17

125

Def

Pumarali

19

5

119

6 Points

1983/84

Imalu

16

13

109

Def

Tapalinga

15

16

106

3 Points

1984/85

Imalu

14

10

94

Def

Irrimaru

7

13

55

1985/86

Tapalinga

19

15

129

DRAW

Imalu

21

3

129

Draw

1985/86

Tapalinga

24

12

156

Def

Imalu

22

3

135

Replay

1986/87

Tapalinga

22

7

139

Def

Pumarali

16

13

109

1987/88

Tapalinga

18

13

121

Def

Imalu

14

14

98

1988/89

Imalu

18

9

117

Def

Milikapati

11

7

73

1989/90

Imalu

23

22

160

Def

Taracumbie

14

11

95

1990/91

Tapalinga

14

9

93

Def

Imalu

12

8

80

1991/92

Imalu

19

5

119

Def

Tuyu

12

10

82

1992/93

Imalu

15

8

98

Def

Irrimaru

9

11

65

1993/94

Imalu

17

9

111

Def

Tuyu

10

12

72

1994/95

Tuyu

15

12

102

Def

Irrimaru

11

11

77

1995/96

Imalu

17

9

111

Def

Tuyu

10

12

72

1996/97

Irrimuru

13

6

84

Def

Imalu

12

6

78

6 Points

1997/98

Tapalinga

17

7

109

Def

Pumarali

11

5

71

1998/99

Imalu

9

8

62

Def

Warankuwu

3

6

24

1999/00

Pumarali

8

6

54

Def

Tuyu

6

12

48

6 Points

2000/01

Ranku

12

7

79

Def

Taracumbie

9

7

61

2001/02

Tuyu

8

7

55

Def

Tapalinga

6

6

42

2002/03

Pumarali

11

10

76

Def

Muluwurri

7

10

52

2003/04

Tapalinga

10

10

70

Def

Imalu

9

6

60

2004/05

Tuyu

12

9

81

Def

Muluwurri

10

3

63

2005/06

Pumarali

7

7

49

Def

Muluwurri

6

8

44

2006/07

Muluwurri

25

6

156

Def

Imalu

12

4

76

2007/08

Imalu

12

9

81

Def

Tapalinga

10

8

68

2008/09

Tapalinga

12

9

81

Def

Imalu

11

7

73

2009/10

Tapalinga

9

15

69

Def

Imalu

4

6

30

2010/11

Imalu

13

10

88

Def

Ranku

6

7

43

2011/12

Tuyu

12

12

84

Def

Imalu

11

5

71

2012/13

Imalu

13

7

85

Def

Tapalinga

10

9

69

2013/14

Tuyu

13

9

87

Def

Muluwurri

12

5

77

2014/15

Walama

7

12

54

Def

Pumaralli

7

10

52

2 Points

2015/16

Muluwurri

11

9

75

Def

Tuyu

9

9

63

Premierships

No

Imalu

17

Tapalinga

11

Pumarali

7

Tuyu

6

Irrimuru

3

now Walama

Muluwurri

2

Ranku

1

Nguiu

0

Wadeye Magic

0

Club

Nick Names

Colours

1

Garden Point to

1

Imalu

Tigers

Black and Gold with Tiger Logo

2

Irrimuru to

2

Walama

Bulldogs

Blue with Red and White Stripes with Bulldog Logo

3

Snake Bay to

3

Milikapati to

Magpie Geese/Magpies

Black and White vertical Stripes

3

Taracumbie to

Magpie Geese

Black and White vertical Stripes

3

Muluwurri

Magpie Geese

Black and White vertical Stripes with Magpie Logo

4

Nguiu

Lions

Maroon and Blue with Gold Lion

5

Pumarali

Thunder and Lightning

Red and Black with Lightning Bolt

6

Warankuwu to

6

Ranku

Eagles

Blue and Gold

7

Tapalinga

Super Stars previous Hawks

Brown and Gold

8

Tuyu

Buffaoes

Light Blue and Dark Blue with Buffalo Logo

9

Wadeye Magic

Magic

Red, Black and Yellow

10

Melville Island

Kangaroos

Note: The TIFL season usually commences the second week of October with the umpires carnival.

The regular season starts the next week following the carnival. The season usually finishes
by the end of March.

Note 1. The Clubs in Bold changed their name over the years to the present club in light
colour

Note 2. Pumarali Thunder and Lightning were called the Bombers but are now just Thunder
and Lightning

Note 3. Tapalinga were called Hawks but are now known as the Super Stars

Note 4. Up until 1990, the TIFL was called the Tiwi Nguilla Football League.

David Kantilla (Snr) Medallist - Tiwi Island Leading Goal Kicker

Year

Name

Club

Total

1971/72

Richard Miller

Taracumbi

42

1972/73

Leon Puruntatameri

Taracumbi

51

1973/74

Richard Miller

Taracumbi

41

1974/75

Baylon Tipungwuti

Imalu

51

1975/76

Andrea Puautjimi

Tapalinga

39

1976/77

Osmond Mackay

Imalu

36

1977/78

Danny Munkara

Taracumbi

42

1978/79

Osmond Mackay

Imalu

50

1979/80

Osmond Mackay

Imalu

52

1980/81

Jules Kerinaiua

Tapalinga

60

1981/82

Lorenzo Kerinaiua

Tapalinga

75

1982/83

Kim Puruntatameri

Tapalinga

79

1983/84

Sebastian Rioli

Imalu

72

1984/85

Kim Puruntatameri

Tapalinga

79

1985/86

Greg Orsto

Taracumbi

53

1986/87

Kim Puruntatameri

Tapalinga

55

1987/88

Emmanuel Rioli

Imalu

96

1988/89

Lorenzo Kerinaiua

Tapalinga

102

1989/90

Lorenzo Kerinaiua

Tapalinga

70

1990/91

Lorenzo Kerinaiua

Tapalinga

70

1991/92

Murray Daniels

Taracumbi

85

1992/93

Greg Orsto

Taracumbi

53

1993/94

Greg Orsto

Taracumbi

78

1994/95

Paul R. Tipungwuti

Irrimaru

75

1995/96

Gawin Tipiloura

Pumaralli

78

1996/97

Gawin Tipiloura

Pumaralli

112

1997/98

Charlie Portaminni

Pumaralli

57

1998/99

Emmanuel Tipungwuti

Tapalinga

48

1999/00

Shane Kerinaiua

Taracumbi

77

2000/01

Valentine Puautjimi

Ranku

101

2001/02

Gilbert Alimankinni

Pumaralli

70

2002/03

Leo Orsto

Tuyu

46

2003/04

Shane Kerinaiua

Pumaralli

124

2004/05

Shane Kerinaiua

Pumaralli

100

2005/06

Joseph Kantilla

Pumaralli

78

2006/07

Daniel Stassi

Muluwurri

71

2007/08

Shane Kerinaiua

Tuyu

52

2008/09

No Award

2009/10

Nathan Daniels

Muluwurri

57

2010/11

David Kantilla

Imalu

75

2011/12

John Benson Kelantumama

Pumaralli

68

2012/13

John Benson Kelantumama

Pumaralli

73

2013/14

Nathan Daniels

Muluwurri

60

2014/15

Mitchell Puantalara

Walama

37

2015/16

John Benson Kelantumama

Pumaralli

34

Most Goals in TIFL Grand Finals

9

John CUSACK

Imalu

1978/79

9

Sibby RIOLI

Imalu

1985/86

Drawn match

9

Sibby RIOLI

Imalu

1985/86

Replay

7

Kim PURUNTATAMERI

Tapalinga

1985/86

Drawn match

7

Lorenzo KERINAIUA

Tapalinga

1985/86

Drawn match

7

Lindsay MOREEN

Mulluwurri

2015/16

6

Cadji DUNN

Imalu

1991/92

6

Danny MUNKARA

Pumaralli

1980/81

6

Francis X. PURUNTATAMERI

Tuyu

1993/94

6

Graham PURUNTATAMERI

Imalu

1992/93

6

Kim PURUNTATAMERI

Tapalinga

1986/87

6

Lorenzo KERINAIUA

Tapalinga

1985/86

Replay

6

Osmond MACKAY

Imalu

1978/79

6

Osmond MACKAY

Imalu

1985/86

Drawn match

6

Patrick PURUNTATAMERI

Imalu

1984/85

5

Charles TIPUNGWUTI

Pumaralli

1975/76

5

Dennis TIPAKALIPA

Imalu

1993/94

5

Kim PURUNTATAMERI

Tapalinga

1985/86

Drawn match

5

Lorenzo KERINAIUA

Tapalinga

1986/87

5

Lorenzo KERINAIUA

Tapalinga

1986/87

5

Nelson MUNGATOPI

Tapalinga

1987/88

5

Osmond MACKAY

Imalu

1978/79

5

Patrick PURUNTATAMERI

Imalu

1983/84

5

Pius TIPUNGWUTI

Imalu

1973/74

5

Shane KERINAIUA

Pumaralli

2005/06

Best and Fairest - Ted Whitten Medallist

Year

Player

Club

1969/70

Michael Phillip Babui

Tapalinga

1970/71

Walter Kerinaiua

Tuyu

1971/72

Januarius Puantulura

Tapalinga

1972/73

John Bosco Tipaloura

Irrimaru

1973/74

Hughie Kerinaiua

Tapalinga

1974/75

Marius Purantatamerri

Imalu

1975/76

Hughie Kerinaiua

Tapalinga

1976/77

Hughie Kerinaiua

Tapalinga

1977/78

Ian Joseph Kerinaiua

Tuyu

1978/79

Bruno Pilakui

Irrimaru

1979/80

SavioTimeapatua

Tuyu

1980/81

Teddy Portaminni

Irrimaru

1981/82

Vivian Kerinaiua

Tuyu

1982/83

Vivian Kerinaiua

Tuyu

1983/84

Bruno Pilakui

Taracumbi

1984/85

Mark Virgil Puautjimi

Pumaralli

1985/86

Bruno Pilakui

Taracumbi

1986/87

Vivian Kerinaiua

Tuyu

1987/88

Marcellino Pipungwuti

Irrimaru

1988/89

Paul Raphael Tipungwuti

Irrimaru

1989/90

Bonaventure Timaepature

Tuyu

1990/91

Brendan Higgins

Irrimaru

1991/92

Timothy Pupangarmirri

Tuyu

1992/93

Lawrence Warlapinni

Pumaralli

Douglas Tipungwuti

Irrimaru

1993/94

Emmanuel Tipungwuti

Irrimaru

1994/95

Graham Puruntatameri

Imalu

1995/96

Marius Puruntatameri

Pumaralli

1996/97

Sebastian Tipungwuti

Irrimaru

1997/98

Graham Puruntatameri

Tapalinga

1998/99

Nathan Pilakui

Tapalinga

1999/00

Nathan Pilakui

Tapalinga

2000/01

Valentine Puautjimi

Ranku

2001/02

Paul Johnson

Tapalinga

2002/03

Freddie Puruntatameri

Pumaralli

Ephrem Tipungwuti

Tapalinga

2003/04

Noel Galarla

Imalu

2004/05

Rupert Pupangmirri

Tuyu

2005/06

David Kantilla

Irrimaru

2006/07

John - Paul Kelantumama

Irrimaru

2007/08

Cameron Kerinaiua

Tuyu

2008/09

No Award

2009/10

Nathan DanielS

Mulluwurri

Mitchell Punatulura

Walama

2010/11

Roy Farmer

Mulluwurri

2011/12

Aaron Daniels

Mulluwurri

2012/13

Hector Tipungwuti

Ranku

2013/14

Alex Lantjin

Wadeye Magic

Tie

2013/14

Jack Munkara

Pumaralli

Tie

2014/15

Juan Orsto*

Walama

2015/16

Clancy Puruntatameri

Walama

Tie

2015/16

Kevin Portaminni

Imalu

Tie

Note: Kenny Puruntatamerri (Tapalinga) received most votes but was suspended during the
season